Preston Love Jr., far left and John Else, center holding sign, were among those Monday calling on Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts to allow the release of Ed Poindexter.
Several people on Monday marched to Gov. Pete Ricketts' Fairacres home and held a press conference at the foot of his driveway calling on Ricketts to act with the Nebraska Pardons Board to release Edward Poindexter.
On a raw November day, with Gov. Pete Ricketts’ Fairacres home as their backdrop, a handful of people called on Ricketts and the Nebraska Pardons Board to allow the release of Ed Poindexter and other elderly prisoners who are no threat to society but are at risk of dying of COVID-19.
Poindexter and another man, David Rice, were convicted of killing an Omaha police officer in 1970. Poindexter and Rice are Black, while Officer Larry Minard was a White father of five. Rice, who later changed his name to Mondo we Langa, died in prison in 2016.
Preston Love Jr., a local activist who was the Democrats’ write-in candidate for Senate this month, led Monday’s appeal to Ricketts.
“The governor holds in his hands the compassion and the healing,” Love said. “And as the chair of the Pardons Board he has the capacity to show that this state has compassion.”
Four inmates with COVID-19 have died, though the exact cause of their deaths has not been released. On Monday, the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services announced that the latest to die was a man in his 70s.
Poindexter is 76.
Poindexter has spent about 50 years in prison, and during that time he has been described as a model prisoner, earning college degrees and working with other inmates.
Taylor Gage, a spokesman for Ricketts, said the governor doesn’t comment on pending or potential pardon applications.
In June and August, supporters of Poindexter unsuccessfully appealed to the board to act. Poindexter filed for an application before the Pardons Board in August, but his application isn’t on the docket of the next board meeting.
Over the years, multiple people have sought the release of Poindexter and Rice, arguing that the two men were framed. Minard’s family has rebuffed those arguments, saying the courts have sided with them.
Poindexter is at increased risk of death if he were to contract COVID-19, because of multiple other health issues, Love said. He has diabetes, coronary artery disease, peripheral arterial disease and end-stage renal disease requiring dialysis.
Our best staff images from November 2020
Photos: Our best staff images from November 2020
Olivia Noonan, 3, of Omaha, looks up at Santa outside Mulhall's in Omaha on Saturday, Nov. 28, 2020. Reindeer Dasher and Dancer will be available to see through Dec. 19 at the garden and home store.
Iowa's Zach VanValkenburg catches a fumble from Nebraska's Adrian Martinez after he was sacked by Iowa's Chauncey Golston.
Iowa's Terry Roberts celebrates recovering a fumble from Nebraska's Cam Taylor-Britt.
A photo of Nathan Pastrana, left and Ryan Helbert sit in memorial across the street to the south of the Sonic at 1307 Cornhusker Rd, on Wednesday, November 25, 2020. A shooting on November 21st killed Pastrana, 22, and Helbert, 28, while Zoey Lujan, 18, and Kenneth Gerner, 25, suffered critical injuries.
Ring billed gulls try to stay dry on the dock at Big Lake Park in Council Bluffs, Iowa on Tuesday, November 24, 2020.
The sun rises behind downtown Omaha on Friday, November 20, 2020.
Ord fans cheer on their team as they play in the Class C2 championship game against Bergan.
Protesters gather for the second night outside the Omaha Police Department headquarters in downtown Omaha on Saturday, November 21, 2020. Kenneth Jones, a Black man, was shot and killed by an officer after a traffic stop on Thursday night.
Nebraska’s Cam Taylor-Britt hits Illinois’s Chase Brown after a first quarter run. Taylor-Britt would leave the game with an injury.
Ord players react as their Class C2 championship trophy is handed to them after defeating Bergan.
Omaha Westside quarterback Cole Payton (9) hugs and lifts head coach Brett Froendt following the Elkhorn South vs. Omaha Westside Class A football state championship game at Omaha Westside High School on Friday, November 20, 2020. Omaha Westside won the title 37-21.
Illinois's Josh Imatorbhebhe catches a second-quarter touchdown pass over Dicaprio Bootle to give them a 21-7 lead.
Aurora's Aaron Jividen, right, comforts Jameson Herzberg after the lost the Class B state title to Elkhorn.
The 2020 "Christmas at Union Station" tree is brought inside the Durham Museum in Omaha on Monday.
Nebraska kicks off to Penn State after a second-quarter touchdown to a nearly empty Memorial Stadium due to the pandemic.
Penn State's Will Levis is taken down by Nebraska's Ben Stille on the final down for the Penn State offense during their game Saturday in Lincoln.
Nebraska quarterback Luke McCaffrey, left, and Head Coach Scott Frost, right celebrate their win over Penn State.
Nebraska's Cam Taylor-Britt and Penn State's Jahan Dotson both go up for the ball in the end zone during their game on Saturday in Lincoln. The pass was incomplete.
Nebraska runs out of the field after the tunnel walk before they play Penn State.
Everyone tries to keep up with Nebraska's Luke McCaffrey during their game on Saturday in Lincoln.
Flags of the five military branches are flown during a Veterans Day drive-thru event at Platteview High School in Springfield on Wednesday, November 11, 2020. The student-led tradition, now in its nineteenth year, was held outside this year because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Dean Mathisen looks at memorials before the start of Veterans Days ceremonies at Memorial Park on Wednesday.
A woman waves from her car during a Veterans Day drive-thru event at Platteview High School in Springfield on Wednesday, November 11, 2020. The student-led tradition, now in its nineteenth year, was held outside this year because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Nebraska's Luke McCaffrey is shoved out of bounds by Northwestern's Adetomiwa Adebawore during their game on Saturday in Evanston.
Nebraska head coach Scott Frost walks on to the field with his team fir the start of their game on Saturday in Evanston.
Northwestern's Peyton Ramsey is hit by Nebraska's Luke Reimer and fumbles the ball during their game on Saturday in Evanston.
Isaiah Ross waves a Biden for President flag during a celebration at 72nd and Dodge Streets on Saturday.
A worker disinfects the seats inside Pinnacle Bank Arena between state volleyball matches on Friday, November 06, 2020.
Bellevue West wide receiver Keegan Johnson runs the ball with Kearney defensive back Tanner Johnson on his heels.
Omaha Skutt's Abigail Schomers celebrates a point against against Ashland Greenwood.
People eat lunch under a tree bearing bright autumn leaves at Miller Park in North Omaha on Thursday, November 5, 2020.
The sun sets near Bancroft Elementary School in southeast Omaha. The sun is going down a minute earlier every day, and this evening it will do so at 5:14.
Belleue West players celebrate a point against Papio South.
Derek Rau and his service dog Voodoo walk to a polling booth in Omaha on Tuesday, November 3, 2020.
Alayna Gonzalez, 8 months, sits with her dad, Hector Gonzalez, of Omaha, while waiting for her mom, Ana Gayton (not pictured), to finish voting so he can take his turn at the Disabled American Veterans hall in South Omaha on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2020.
Voters occupy all the booths inside Bethel Lutheran Church, 1312 S. 45th St., on Tuesday. There were close to 30 people in line when the doors opened.
A person votes at the Omaha Community Playhouse in Omaha on Tuesday, November 3, 2020.
Volunteer Jay Mason throws way political signs that were too close to the polling place at Bethel Lutheran Church located at 1312 South 45th Street on Tuesday, November 03, 2020.
Bancroft Elementary School in South Omaha on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2020.
Sidewalk chalk messages at 13th and Bancroft Streets in South Omaha on Election Day, Tuesday, November 3, 2020.
Rep. Don Bacon greeted drivers at 72nd Street and Highway 370 in Papillion.
A spooky reminder to vote in a home's yard near 72nd and Cass Street in Omaha on Thursday, October 22, 2020.
The line for early voting wraps back and forth at the Douglas County Election Commission on Saturday, October 31, 2020.
Rep. Don Bacon leaves a brochure while campaigning door-to-door in Papillion on Friday.
Democrat Kara Eastman keeps an Election Day countdown in the front room of her campaign office at 72nd and Farnam Streets.
Rida Rahman, 4, waits in line with her parents, Hafiz Rahman, left, and Shamsun Ruby, right, at the Douglas County Election Commission on Saturday, October 31, 2020. Rida was dressed as Raphael, from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, while her parents were in line for early voting.
Nancy Gaarder
Nancy Gaarder helps cover public safety and weather events as an editor on The World-Herald's breaking news desk. Follow her on Twitter @gaarder. Email: nancy.gaarder@owh.com
